when instagram decides you're an impostor ...

At the beginning of the month, a friend notified me that someone had opened an impersonation Instagram account in my name. This person had taken my name, profile picture, and last 24 pictures and copied them into this new account, which had a username just slightly different from my own.

I put out the call to all of my Facebook friends and Instagram followers to report the fake profile ... and I woke up the next morning to find that my own legitimate account had been disabled for impersonation.

Interestingly, Instagram states that only the person being impersonated can report another account for impersonation, and I certainly didn't report myself, but there you have it. (Also, I tried to report the other account for impersonation, but Instagram requires you to attach a photo of yourself holding your photo ID, and the report form wasn't working. Of course, it's working now, after it's too late ...) About 72 hours later, Instagram disabled the fake account, but it's now been more than three weeks, and I cannot get any response from Instagram about my real account. I'm beginning to believe that those 1000+ posts from nearly five years are just gone. (Fortunately, I had Chatbooks, so all but the last several posts are printed in my Instagram series.)

The most frustrating thing about it is that I cannot get a real person. Someone who actually looked at the two accounts would be able to tell in an instant that my account was the real account and that I wasn't impersonating anyone, but I am completely unable to get a response from a real person.

For a few years there, customer service was king, and if you aired a grievance with a company on Twitter, you were sure to get a response. Perhaps we've passed that era, or perhaps Instagram just doesn't care. Whatever the reason, my Twitter pleas have received zero response.

So, yes, I'm frustrated, but at least one good thing has come out of all of this. For quite a while, my sister had been telling me that I should start an Instagram account for my book blog. I always resisted for a variety of reasons, but the main one was that I didn't want to start over with followers. I had close to 400 on my personal account, and, while that's not a huge number, it's a whole lot bigger than zero!

But with my personal account shut down, I had nothing to lose! So I created a Christian Chick's Thoughts account: @cctblog.

I'm loving it!

It's a much more focused account, basically about books, movies, and music ... and, of course, my cats. And there's something about knowing who I'm targeting that makes it easier to write captions and choose what to post.

I've also been doing a lot of thinking about why I posted what I did before, and I have to be honest and say that I was looking for affirmation. Yes, many of the photos I posted were ones that I wanted to remember (and I did a fair bit of scrolling through my own old posts), but I wanted others to like them, too. I suppose the same could be said of my CCT account, as well, but the purpose of these photos is to "build my brand," so to speak, and drive people to my blog. It also gives me a great forum to share about the books I'm reading, which never really fit well on my personal Instagram. I'm actually interacting a lot more with other book lovers through this account than I ever did before. At least for now, this account feels very fulfilling.

And I still have Facebook for all of those family and vacation pics 😃. (Maybe I'll create a new personal Instagram ... we'll see. If so, I'll be sure to let you know!)

Read More

when hashi rears its head

I wrote this yesterday and almost didn't post it. But, in an effort to share the "realness" of life, I decided to go ahead and hit "publish."

I haven't talked publicly about Hashimoto's, my autoimmune disease, for a long time. For a while, it was THE thing in my life. But after getting on the right meds, vastly changing my diet, and learning to take care of myself, it's become just A thing, something that's part of who I am but doesn't rule my life.

Most of the time.

Today, though, I'm very aware of Hashi and the limitations it gives me. We had a major snowstorm that dumped 10-ish inches and created drifts of 3 or more feet. My car isn't going anywhere until it gets dug out.

I know that strenuous exercise isn't good for me, but what was I supposed to do? (Of course, I could've chosen to stay snowed in, at least in theory. But it didn't really feel like a choice. I needed to dig out.) So I bundled up and attacked the snow. After about 30 minutes, I quit. I'm still snowed in. And I spent the next hour sprawled on the couch. Three hours later, I'm not feeling much better.

I used to feel this—this deep, utter exhaustion—every single time I mowed my lawn. Last summer, I didn't feel it once, which is a testament to how much healing I've done. But it's frustrating to have my limitations thrown in my face. I cringe when I wonder if the neighbors think I'm lazy or wimpy—because I look perfectly normal; I look like I should be able to handle some snow. I was even slightly embarrassed when I admitted to my friend (and sometimes mail carrier) that "this" just about killed me when she delivered a package this afternoon, and she knew me when I was at my worst! I guess it's just humbling to be reminded that some things are out of my control, and I'm not really self-sufficient.

I also worry that this exertion is going to set me back, cause a flare-up of symptoms, and impact more than just today. I know that I'll need to be extra vigilant and extra gentle with myself for a while. This in itself is frustrating, as I'm forgoing some things I'd like to do (like keeping up with my steps in a walking challenge I've joined) in hopes of not making things worse.

But I'm also so thankful that I'm not where I once was. If it takes a snowstorm to remind me of both my frailty and of how far I've come, I guess I should be grateful. And I'm also grateful for my dad, who came over after he got off work and finished digging me out!

Read More

friday favorites #35: week of september 7, 2017

Fun (?) fact: This post has been in the works for about three months. I just never quite seem to get it finished on Friday, so then the next time I come to it, I swap out old favorites and add new ones. But today I've done it—I've actually finished a Friday Favorites! (As my sister would demand: "CLAP FOR ME!")

Read More

movie mondays: movies i wish i could find on dvd

This afternoon, I checked my TV app to see what was on later tonight, and I noticed that Hallmark was playing one of my TV movie favorites. I couldn't watch it because of work, and it's been a while since I've seen it, so I immediately checked my friend Amazon ... only to find it's not on DVD.

That got me thinking about the movies—some recent, some older—that I would gladly pay for if only they were on DVD. Here's my wishlist, in no particular order. (Except for #1!)

Chance of a Lifetime (1998)

This is my #1 DVD wish, hands down. Chance of a Lifetime is a marriage of convenience romance starring John Ritter and Katey Sagal well before their days on 8 Simple Rules. Their characters wed because Maguire (Ritter) doesn't have health insurance but needs back surgery due to an injury sustained while helping Irene (Sagal). As they try to convince everyone—including an insurance fraud investigator—that their marriage is real, they ... you guessed it ... fall in love. 

I actually still have this one on VHS, and I pull it out every now and again ... but I taped it off of TV, and our reception wasn't great, so it's pretty grainy. Every so often, I search for it on YouTube, but I've never found it.

Love's Complicated (2016)

This is the movie that prompted this post. I don't know why some Hallmark Channel films are released on DVD and others aren't. Since this one is fairly recent, I do have hope that it will be released one day. Author Leah's life is predictable and boring until her boyfriend enrolls her in a conflict resolution class. There she meets shock-jock Cinco, who's attending the class on court order. Though the two initially dislike each other, they ... of course ... fall in love 😍. Leads Holly Marie Combs and Ben Bass have more chemistry than is often present in Hallmark films, and this one actually felt a bit unique. I don't often watch a Hallmark film and think I'd like to own it, but I'd like to get my hands on this one.

Fun fact: Love's Complicated is just one of several recent Hallmark films to be adapted from Christian fiction. This one is based on Rene Gutteridge's My Life as a Doormat.

Model Behavior (2000)

This film is far from perfect, at least from what I remember, but I do remember it fondly. I had always been more of a JC girl than a Justin fan, but when I watched this movie, I thought, Hmmm, that Justin Timberlake IS kind of cute! What he wasn't was a particularly good actor (this was his first film role), but that didn't really matter. The story, about two teens (played by Maggie Lawson of Psych) who trade lives, is very The Prince and the Pauper-esque, and it's quite enjoyable. At least it was when I saw it in 2000.

This Time Around (2003)

There was a time (10-15 years ago) when ABC Family made some great romance/romantic comedy movies. Some of my favorites were released on DVD (I own Lucky Seven with Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Patrick Dempsey and Reality of Love [a.k.a. I Want to Marry Ryan Banks] with Bradley Cooper and Jason Priestley), but this one wasn't. My brother was kind enough to record it for me, since he had cable and I didn't, and I still have the VHS tape. But I'd love to find it on DVD!

This is an "ugly girl grows up to be unrecognizably pretty and gets the guy she liked in junior high" story, so, basically, completely unrealistic ... but I still really like it. There's just something about Brian Austin Green ...

Matchmaker Santa (2012)

Now we get into my Christmas movies wish list! My guess is that if Matchmaker Santa had been made a year or two later, it would be on DVD, as it seems that all of Hallmark's recent Christmas releases eventually find their way to DVD. Starring Hallmark's Christmas queen Lacey Chabert* and Adam Mayfield, it's about a woman who falls for her boyfriend's assistant when they're stranded together in a small town right before Christmas. It does have possibly one of the most "non-ending" endings ever, but the rest of the film is so delightful that I can forgive the end.

*Honestly, I'm not sure who has made more Hallmark Christmas movies, Lacey Chabert or Candace Cameron Bure. Maybe they can be co-rulers of Hallmark's Christmas Land.

Christmas List (2016)

While several of Hallmark's 2016 Christmas offerings have already been or will soon be released on DVD, Christmas List isn't one of them. And that's too bad. Starring Hallmark's Christmas princess Alicia Witt and the always charming Gabriel Hogan in their second pairing for the network, Christmas List is about a woman who seeks to complete her Christmas bucket list. It's predictable but charming, and it was the biggest surprise of Hallmark's 2016 Christmas season to me. I really enjoyed it, and it's one of the few 2016 premieres that I'd like to own. 

The Christmas List (1997)

Not to be confused with Christmas List, this film is a 1997 charmer starring Mimi Rogers (a.k.a. Mrs. Tom Cruise #1). Melody is a perfume salesgirl whose life is changed after she sends a letter to Santa. I haven't seen this one in years, so I can't really tell you if it's any good, but I remember loving it when I saw it! (I did find it on YouTube, but the audio has been dubbed in another language, so I quickly decided not to watch it.)

Have you seen any of these? What movies do you wish you could own? Does anyone else still own—and occasionally use—a VCR???

Read More

movie mondays: up faith & family

A few days ago, I read a review of Love Finds You in Valentine. Not only did the movie sound like one I'd enjoy, but I was curious about the setting—Valentine, Nebraska. I decided to see what it would cost to rent on Amazon, and I discovered it was free to watch with a subscription to UP Faith & Family. Because Amazon is kind and allows a free trial to its add-on channels, I decided to sign up for the free trial ... and then watch all the UP movies I could during the trial period. (Sound familiar? This is basically exactly what I did with PixL last winter, only PixL is available through YouTube, not Amazon.)

While I really only scratched the surface of what UP has to offer, here are a few of the best movies I watched ... and a one to avoid as a bonus!

I would definitely compare UP's original movies to Hallmark's. The difference here is that UP films, while I wouldn't classify them as "Christian," aren't afraid to touch on faith. Characters are often shown attending church or praying before meals, and several major and minor characters in the movies I watched were either pastors or were heavily involved in their churches. The production values on UP movies are very similar to Hallmark's. And the two share a lot of actors, too. (I noticed that many of the films available to watch on the UP channel are not UP originals, but I think most of the movies I'm talking about are ... since my free trial has ended, I can't go back and check.)

Five UP Films to Watch

Love Finds You in Valentine

Following her father's death, Kennedy Blaine learns she has inherited the family ranch in Valentine, Nebraska. Though she'd prefer just to sell it, her father requested that Kennedy visit the ranch first. Once she arrives in Valentine, Kennedy meets many distant relatives—her parents were both from Valentine but moved away due to a longstanding feud between their families. She also meets her grandfather, a man she didn't even know was still living, and she discovers her father's accountant may not have been telling the truth about the ranch's financial state. And, of course, she meets a man—Derek, the ranch foreman, with whom she gets off to a very rocky start.

Love Finds You in Valentine is sweet and romantic with just a touch of suspense. It is the second movie I watched with my free trial (I'll tell you about the first in the "what not to watch" section), and I was pleasantly surprised. The acting was good, the leads had actual chemistry, and the plot was entertaining. In fact, my only complaint is that the film was so obviously not filmed in Nebraska. (I looked it up on imdb, and it was filmed in Ohio, which is beautiful but clearly not the Nebraska Sandhills. I even spotted an Ohio license plate at one point.) One Tree Hill fans will recognize Michaela McManus (Kennedy), and I must say that she's much more likeable here than she was as Lucas's girlfriend Lindsey! Other cast members include the always great Ed Asner and the Bionic Woman herself, Lindsay Wagner. 4-1/2 stars.

Love Finds You in Charm

Emma is a young Amish woman who longs to experience the world. When she goes to visit a widowed cousin over the summer, she meets two intriguing men—Amish man Noah and Englischer Andy. She also becomes friends with Kelly, a young woman who fled to her aunt's inn following a difficult breakup. As Emma explores the world of cars, clothes, makeup, and men, she must decide where she fits—with the Amish or with the Englisch.

Amish fiction is so not my thing (unless it's written by Suzanne Woods Fisher). I wouldn't normally have watched Love Finds You in Charm, but I enjoyed Love Finds You in Valentine so much that I thought I'd give it a try! (Both films, as well as Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, are based on novels from Guidepost's "Love Finds You" line—I've reviewed Love Finds you in Sugarcreek, Ohio; Love Finds You in Sunset Beach, Hawaii; Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan; and Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska, on my book blog.)

Love Finds You in Charm is a very enjoyable film. Sure, I never fully bought Trevor Donovan (Noah) as an Amish man, and Drew Fuller played Andy as too forward and smarmy to be a believable option for Emma, but I still enjoyed watching it. It's not great cinema, but it's an enjoyable way to pass a few hours. 3 stars.

Love Finds You in Sugarcreek

While traveling with his young son Bobby, Joe Matthews (Tom Everett Scott) finds himself stranded in the Amish community of Sugarcreek, Ohio. He meets a kind Amish man who takes them to an inn run by three Amish sisters. The women take to Bobby immediately and agree to let Joe stay in exchange for doing some work around the property. However, their niece Rachel (Sarah Lancaster), a Sugarcreek policewoman, is highly suspicious of Joe and sets out to uncover his secrets. She learns that there's more to Joe's story than he's letting on ... but when she's losing her heart to him, will his real identity matter?

Really, I think the UP free trial was worth it for these three Love Finds You films alone. Love Finds You in Sugarcreek is sweetly romantic with a touch of mystery and suspense. Scott (who will always be "Shades" to me) and Lancaster have great chemistry, and the movie is just incredibly enjoyable. Also, the screenwriter wisely fixed the one problem I had with the novel the film is based on—a pregnant teen who seemed to be present solely to advance the plot is nowhere to be found in the film! 4 stars.

Guess Who's Coming to Christmas

Dax (Drew Lachey) is a washed-up rock star desperate for another hit. Following an embarrassing incident involving alcohol and a frozen turkey, he agrees to image rehab—by spending a week with a fan. That chosen fan is Kelly Harding, a woman who recently moved back in with her parents and younger brother after the New York publisher she worked for went under. Though Kelly has loved Dax since adolescence, she soon realizes the real Dax is nothing like the idol she once dreamed about. 

Here's the thing about Guess Who's Coming to Christmas: It's really predictable, Drew Lachey isn't a particularly great actor, and the song that Dax and Kelly write together is truly terrible ... but I really enjoyed the movie! I caught myself laughing out loud multiple times—I definitely did not expect it to be so funny. Much of the humor comes from the basically amoral Dax trying to live with Kelly's Christian family for a week. I really dislike when Christian films come across as preachy, but that's not the case with Guess Who's Coming to Christmas. Instead, the faith feels organic, like it's an integral part of the lives of the Hardings. I wouldn't even call it a Christian movie—it's a movie where some of the characters happen to be Christians. 3-1/2 stars.

Side note only important to a Nebraskan: Dax is originally from Beatrice, Nebraska ... only it's always pronounced BEE-uh-triss (like the woman's name) instead of bee-AT-russ. It's one of those things you'd never know if you weren't from the area ... but it also takes away from the authenticity of the film. (Not that Guess Who's Coming to Christmas is incredibly realistic, but still ...)

Dear Viola

Accountant Katie has always dreamed of being a writer, so when the advice columnist at the small-town newspaper she keeps books for retires, Katie takes a stab at writing the column ... anonymously, of course. Through the column, she begins sparring with widowed father Russ, a man she already knows (and secretly admires) from church, and a You've Got Mail type of situation soon unfolds, as she knows his identity, but he doesn't know she is Viola.

I always enjoy Kellie Martin in Hallmark-type movies, and Dear Viola is no exception. She is so likeable as the shy, slightly awkward Katie, and Jefferson Brown is quite charming as Russ. (Brown certainly has the charming thing down—he was the best part of the dreadful Please Kill Mr. Know It All, which I wrote about here.) Sure, there's the clichéd gorgeous, self-centered woman who so dazzles Russ that he can't see Katie right in front of him, and the ending is rather unbelievable (nothing new for this type of movie), but it's still a really enjoyable story. 4-1/2 stars.

One UP Film to Avoid

Accidentally Engaged

Clarissa (Lexi Giovagnoli) is a struggling actress who, through a string of fairly implausible events, becomes linked in the tabloids to superstar Chas Hunter (Brant Daugherty). Hoping to cover up his relationship with his married publicist, Chas asks Clarissa to pretend to be his girlfriend. But when Chas accompanies Clarissa to her best friend's wedding back home, the fake relationship takes a turn into real territory.

I am such a sucker for fake relationships turned real stories! So when I first heard about this film, I knew I wanted to watch it. It goes exactly as you'd expect, with Clarissa and Chas eventually falling in love. Here's the thing, though: Giovagnoli and Daugherty have zero chemistry. But Giovagnoli and Randy Wayne, who plays Clarissa's best guy friend Graham? They have chemistry in spades. So I found myself hoping that the film would do the unexpected and have Clarissa and Graham fall in love. But no. The movie goes just as you'd think, and Clarissa and Chas end up together, despite the predictability and lack of chemistry. Blurg. 2 stars.

Note: An UP Faith & Family subscription is $4.99 per month following your free 7-day trial. (You must have an Amazon Prime membership to purchase any of Amazon's add-on channels.) The movies can also be rented individually—but if you want to watch more than one, it's definitely worth it to subscribe for a month. Also note that several UP Faith & Family titles (but not nearly all, and none that I talked about here) are available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu.

Have you seen any of these films? What did you think? 

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Read More

friday favorites #34: week of june 9, 2017

Why yes, I do still have this blog! I haven't written in forever, but today deserves celebration—I submitted my yearbook today!!! I hope to blog a little more regularly now that my school year has officially officially wrapped up.

Here are some of the things that have made me happy recently:

1. Finishing the Yearbook

See that little purple circle on the screen? It represents the yearbook. It's a pie chart where the colors show the progress on the book. Purple represents "submitted." And now it's all purple! This was like the yearbook that would never end; the only time it ever took me longer than this to finish was 2012, when I had my gallbladder removed the week after school got out, and I didn't touch the yearbook for more than a week. Contrast that with this year, when most of my working hours since school got out have been devoted to yearbook, and I've worked well over 40 hours each week. But now it's been sent off to the printer, and I don't plan to read one bit of it after it's printed!

2. Free Music!

Tonight, in the middle of my marathon yearbook submission, I got an email from Ticketmaster saying my recent purchase of Lady Antebellum tickets included a download of their new album, Heart Break. I had no idea when I bought the tickets—I got in on a sweet $20 sale and didn't really pay attention to anything else—but I'll never turn down free music!

3. Wonder Woman

If you haven't seen Wonder Woman yet, what are you waiting for? My mom and I saw it last weekend, and it was amazing! Also, I got in free, and my mom got free popcorn and pop, thanks to a promotion one of our local theaters was running. (The fact that I just said "one of our local theaters" still astounds me. I live in a town of 3000, yet we have two movie theaters. Just over a year ago, we had none. Currently, both theaters are showing Wonder Woman. Small town politics.)

Anyway, Wonder Woman. Hands down the best DC movie I've seen, and it beats a lot of the Marvel ones, too. Forget the tortured "hero" who does decidedly anti-heroic things. Diana fights for those who can't fight for themselves. She is firmly on the side of good, and she values others above herself. Diana is the type of woman we should want our daughters to emulate.

4. The Cubs

It's true that the Cubs are having a rough go of it. As of today, their record is 30-30, they're second in the NL Central, and they recently went 0-3 vs. the Padres (RIP, Pitch!). But I am so enjoying following their games and watching the few that I can get on TV. Apparently (and I never knew this before because I didn't care), I live in Royals country. Pretty much every Royals game is on TV and on the radio. Where's the love for the Cubbies???

Anyway, I'm learning a ton about baseball, and I'm really enjoying it! I'm also enjoying this, which is admittedly a couple months old, but I still get a kick out of it every time I see it: 

5. Jane of Austin by Hillary Manton Lodge

I've been eagerly anticipating this book for a while, and my review copy came today! It's a take on Sense & Sensibility, and you know I'm a sucker for all the Austen adaptations! I have a few other books I have to read first—after all, I've read virtually nothing but yearbook pages for a month—but I can't wait to pick it up.

So that's what's been making me happy recently. I'd love to know what's making you happy, too! 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book mentioned in this post free for review. The opinions expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Read More

friday favorites #33: week of march 24, 2017

Well, it's been forever since I participated in a Friday Favorites ... or even posted anything on this blog! I'm coming to you on my third—yes, third—sick day in a row. Influenza has been going around, but I'm pretty sure I just have a really (really, really) nasty cold. I spent the first two days flat on the couch, but today has been a bit better. I actually feel like reading and blogging, whereas during the first two days, I watched a lot of TV and Netflix. Let me save you some time if you find yourself home with a cold that makes your head fuzzy and you want to watch something. Say yes to Hallmark's Home & Family (I'm as surprised as you are!), Monk, Diagnosis Murder, Fuller House, and Army Wives. Say no to ... every single movie I started watching: Your Sister's Sister (did not finish), The Brothers (did not finish), October Gale (finished and wish I hadn't), and Blind Date (did not finish). (To be fair, Blind Date may be wonderful ... but it's a French film, and no way was my brain capable of following subtitles while in the throes of a cold!)

Anyway, on to the favorites!

1. March Madness

I love, love, this time of year! As I type this, I'm watching UCLA and Kentucky battle it out in the Sweet Sixteen. I wrote about the roots of my March Madness love a few years ago:

 I was bit by the MM bug in 1995, when I watched the UCLA Bruins win the National Championship. The fact that I still remember (a) the names Ed O'Bannon and Tyus Edney and (b) that the TV coverage of the event began with a montage of tournament moments set to "I Just Can't Wait To Be King" from the Lion King is perhaps pathetic, but it shows how much that game impacted me. 

I've really been enjoying this tournament, especially since Kansas is still in it! If they play like they played in the last 12 minutes of last night's game against Purdue, I think they're unstoppable. The problem is that it takes them a while to really get rolling!

In this tournament, it's always about KU!

Besides the basketball, my favorite aspect is the Capital One commercials with Charles Barkley, Samuel L. Jackson, and Spike Lee. This year's are all pretty good, but my favorite by far is this one:


Cracks me up every time! (I do love "Snack Hoodie" and "Clapper," too.)

I'd be remiss if I didn't show you my favorite one they've ever done. This is from 2015. A classic:

2. The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

 I started watching these when I was packing to move in 2013. I watched the first 20 or so, and then I just kind of forgot about it. I rediscovered them today, and I powered through about 40 before stopping for basketball. (It's not as bad as it sounds--each episode is only four or five minutes long.) I wish I would have thought to stream these two days ago ... I could have saved myself from some terrible Netflix movies :-)

3. Lentil chips

I recently began eating lentils. They're a great source of fiber, and they don't have much taste—so they mix into things well. At first, I was just eating lentils, but then I found lentil pasta at Trader Joe's, and then ... lentil chips! I bought these from Amazon. They totally remind me of Bugles (remember those?)! They make a great semi-healthy, low-guilt snack.

4. Time after Time

I mean, it's like this show was tailor made for me. H.G. Wells. Time travel. Romance. Of course I'm gonna love it!

It's based on the 1979 film of the same name (which I never saw). After H.G. Wells invents a time machine, he discovers his friend John is Jack the Ripper. Conveniently, H.G. has just explained the time machine to John, so when the police come looking for him, John hijacks the time machine. Because of some science thing I can't remember, the time machine returns to H.G., who then follows John ... to 2017 New York City. 

One thing about this show—it's violent, which you would expect from a show where one of the main characters is Jack the Ripper. So I do close my eyes and mute the TV at times, but I'm really enjoying the story.

5. For Love and Honor

If you like medieval fiction or YA romance, then you need to check out Jody Hedlund's An Uncertain Choice trilogy! For Love and Honor is the final book (maybe ... Hedlund has hinted that there may be another story about a minor character in the works), and it's definitely my favorite. Sir Bennet, one of the three knights featured in the series, finally gets his love story, and it's a great one! (See my review.)

So that's what's been making me happy recently. What have you been enjoying lately? Are you as crazy for March Madness as I am? Let me know!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book mentioned in this post free for review. The opinions expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Read More